NEW MEXICO CATHOLIC SCHOOL TELLS TRANSGENDER TEEN HE MUST DRESS LIKE A GIRL FOR GRADUATION

A transgender teen in Albuquerque has run afoul of the Catholic Church’s lack of understanding of trans issues. LGBTQ Naton reports:

A transgender student at a Catholic high school in Albuquerque, N.M., says he is has been told he must wear female student gown at his graduation procession, or not walk at all. Damian Garcia is a senior at St. Pius X High School, where at the graduation ceremony, the girls wear white gowns and the boys wear black. Damian, who identifies as male and had a legal name change last year, said he’s been told by the school that he must wear the white gown reserved for females, or not participate in the ceremony.

It’s sad that the school can’t bend this rule – after all, once Damien graduates they’ll never have to see him again. Our hearts are with you, Damien!

TRANSGENDER SOLDIER ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE PENTAGON

For the first time, the US Military has changed the records of a former solder to reflect her gender accurately. Buzzfeed reports:

In a short letter dated May 2, a Navy official told Autumn Sandeen, a veteran and transgender activist: “Per your request the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) has been updated to show your gender as female effective April 12, 2013.” Sandeen’s military identification card now reflects the change, a move called “quite significant” by the head of OutServe-SLDN, a national organization for LGBT service members and veterans and their families.